Die casting machine with automatic ladle



April 27 1954 H. H. DOEHLER ErAL DIE CASTING MACHINE WITH AUTOMATICLADLE Filed May 19', 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l HERMAN.

INVENTORS. H DOEHL E 2 BY. cayo/s A. w/Lcox 1 q. 5, l E

' ATTORNEYS April 27, 1954 H. H. DOEHLER ETAL DIE CASTING MACHINE WITHAUTOMATIC LADLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 195o April 27 1954 H. H.DOEHLER ET AL- 2,676,370

DIE CASTING MACHINE WITH AUTOMATIC LADLE Filed May 19, 1950 4Sheets-Shea?. 3

. 1N V EN TOR. HERMA /V A. DOE /LE E BY CL YDE A. W/LCX ATTORNEYS April27, 1954 H. H. DOEHLER ET AL DIE CASTING MACHINE WITH AUTOMATIC LADLE 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 19, 1950 l VVE/vrom. HERMA/V H. Doff/L52 aros4. w/cox wrom/@V5 Patented Apr. 27, 1954 Herman H. Doehler, New York,and Clyde A.

Wilcox, Batavia, signments,

N. Y., assignors, by mesne asto National Lead Company, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 19, 1950,Serial No. 163,054

6 Claims. l l

'Ihis invention relates to die casting machines,

particularly of the cold chamber type, and :more especially to automaticladle mechanism therefor. l The primary objectof our invention is togenerally improve cold chamber die casting. This is commonly employedfor high temperature alloys such as aluminum, magnesium and brass, andis characterized by the fact that a charge of molten metal is manuallyladled from amelting pot into the cold chamber or shot sleeve of themachine. It has heretofore been proposed to mechanize the ladlingoperation, but such prior proposalswere not successful, 'and so far aswe are aware, were not adopted and used successfully in a commercialway.

One specific object of the present invention is to facilitate thetransport of metal over a substantial distance so `that the melting potmay be spaced by the usual convenient distance from the machine. Stillanother object is to provide ladle mechanism which permits the bowl ofthe ladle to be immersed in the molten metal at a substantial angleapproaching .the perpendicular, and which permits the discharge spout ofthe ladle to discharge the molten metal into the pour hole of the shotsleeve at a convenient angle. With these objects in view, the ladle is'carried at the upper end of a support arm which is pivotally mounted atits lower end, the said arm being of substantial length and thereforeaffording adequate space between' the melting pot and the shot sleeve.The arm is .preferably arranged to be swung over an angle substantiallygreater than 90, and preferably greater than 135, thereby attaining notonly the desired transport distance, but also the desired dipping andpouring angles.

A further object of the present inventionisto minimize the necessarylift of the charge of molten metal, and also to minimize the effect ofcentrifugal force, during movement of the ladle from dipping to pouringposition. For this purpose the apparatus is preferably provided withmeans for substantially shortening the arm during the middle portion ofits travel and for lengthening the arm at the end portionsl of itstravel. In preferred form the arm is' telescopically arranged, and theupper or ladle-carrying portion thereof is provided with a cam followermoving-in a stationary cam track. This cam track is substantiallyhorizontal in its middle portion. and isl downwardly curved at its ends.Such an arrangement retains the advantage Voi large transport'distanciay combined 'with desired 2 dipping and pouring angles, whileminimizing the centrifugal force on and the elevation of the moltenmetal in the ladle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide suitableinter-related control mechanism for putting 'all parts of the machinethrough their operating cycle automatically. The apparatus comprises amain clamp cylinder for opening and closing the die, a shot cylinder formoving the shot plunger in the shot sleeve, and a third cylinder formoving the ladlecarrying arm. The cylinders` are preferably hydraulicand are controlled -by air-operated hydraulic valves, which in turn areconveniently controlled by solenoid-operated air valves, which in turnare controlled by appropriate electrical circuits. No master cam shaftor timing shaft is needed, and instead two timers may be employed; one adelay timer to guard against premature operation of the shot plunger,and the other a main timer for timing the cooling interval after theshot is made and before the machine is opened for ejection. A number ofmachine operations are interlocked vfor safety, as is later described. y

Still further objects of the present invention center about change oradjustment of the quantity of metal picked up by the ladle during eachdipping operation. For this purpose the ladle is preferably providedwith a bowl which is detachably secured to the ladle, and which isreadily removable and interchangeable with other bowls of diiferentsize. Thus the charge of metal may be made commensurate with the size ofthe casting, without necessitating change of the entire ladle. Inaccordance with still another feature and object of the invention someadjustment of the charge of metal may be made without changing the bowl,and for this purpose the bowl is preferably made circular orcylindricalat its open upper endwhere it is connected to the ladle, andis made rotatably adjustable. Inas'much as the outer side wall of thecup' is cut away to provide the opening through which metal lows'intothe cup when the cup is dipped, vthe effective quantity of metalretained in the cup is varied somewhat when the bowl is turned to oneside or the other from its normal position.

To accomplish the foregoing objects, and such other more specic objectsas will hereinafter appear, our invention .resides in the automatic'-ladle mechanism, and die casting apparatus, land their relation one toanother, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the followingspecilication. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. l is an elevation showing one form of ladle mechanism embodyingfeatures of our invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a detail drawn to enlarged scale, and taken in the plane ofthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view drawn to an enlarged scale and showing thetelescopic arm with its cover plate removed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing one typical relation betweenthe furnace, the die casting machine, and the ladle;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a modified ladle mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken approximately in the vertical planepassing through the ladle arm shaft in Fig. 6, substantially in theplane of the line i-l of Fig. e; and

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the hydraulic, air, and electricalcircuits of a typical apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring nrst to Fig. 8 of the drawing, the cold chamber die castingmachine may be conventional in comprising a front plate l2 on which thecover die (not shown) is mounted, and which carries the cold chamber orshot sleeve ld, the latter having a pour hole i6 through which a chargeof molten metal is ladled Ther machine further comprises a main clampcylinder i8 i'or moving a movable platen 2d which carries the ejectordie, the clamp cylinder serving to open or close the die. Conventionaltoggle mechanism has been omitted in order to simplify the drawing. Whenthe die is closed the charge oi metal in the shot sleeve is ejected intothe die cavity by means of a shot plunger 22. This is operated by a shotcylinder Eil. The cylinders are usually hydraulically operated.

In accordance with the present invention, a ladle (not shown in Fig. 8)is automatically moved between a dipping position and a pouringposition, and suitable mechanism is provided for this purpose. While notessential, this mechanisrn may conveniently be moved hydraulically, andaccordingly a third hydraulic cylinder 26 is added for moving the ladle.In practice this cylinder is disposed vertically, as later described,but has been turned as. here shown in order to separate the connectionsin the schematic diagram.

Referring now to Fig. 6 of the drawing, the general idea of the ladlingmechanism will be understood from inspection of the drawing. A ladle 3%is carried at the end of an arm 32 which is pivoted at 355 at a pointbetween the melting pot 3d and the pouring hole it of the shot sleevelll. The ladle ll here shown is enclosed or tubular, and has a pouringspout 3S at one end, and a bowl il@ at the other end. lt will be evidentfrom inspection of the ldrawing that when the arm 3i is in its lefthandposition the bowl is immersed in the molten metal ft2, as shown at 4B',the said metal filling the enclosed lower part of the bowl throughthe'opening fill'. When the ladle is swung from the dipping position 38to the pouring position 38" the pour spout assumes the position 38directly over the pour hole it, and the metal flows from the bowlthrough the ladle into the shot sleeve it. The arrangement is such thatthe metal does not begin to pour until fairly near the end of the ladlemovement,

and at that time the direction of iiow of the metal is such that itpours through the pour hole i6.

By mounting the ladle at the end of a relatively long arm the travel ofthe ladle may be made substantial, and accordingly the furnace ormelting pot lmay be spaced at a desired convenient distance from theshot sleeve. At the same time because the angle through which the arm isswung is substantial, say or more, the bowl il may be immersed in themolten metal at a steep angle (substantially perpendicular in thepresent case). At the completion of the pouring stroke the ladle anddischarge spout are at a fairly steep angle which insures rapid andcomplete discharge of the molten metal. The arrangement is to becontrasted with an arrangement in which it is attempted to bridge thedistance between the melting pot and the pour hole by means of a longladle which is rocked about a pivot located at the middle of the ladleitself, for in such case the ladlecould be given only a limited rockingor seesaw movement, and the dipping and pouring angles would berelatively flat or limited.

Considering the particular mechanism of Figs. 6 and '7 in greaterdetail, the arm 32 is rocked by means of a piston it movable in ahydraulic cylinder ri. rlhe piston rod 50 is connected at its upper endto a raclr 52 which meshes with a pinion 5d on the shaft 3ft of the arm32. It will be evident that upward or downward movement or the pistonserves to swing the arm between its dipping and pouring positions. This,however, wouldY involve substantial elevation of the ladle, and wouldexert considerable centrifugal force on the molten metal. Thesediiculties are overcome by the use of a telescopic arm and means to varyits length.

The telescopic arrangement of the ladle arm is best shown in Fig. '7, inwhich it will be seen that an inner bar 5S is secured at its lower endto the shaft In the present case the shaft has a mating hole milled orbreached diametrically therethrough to receive the lower end of the harThe upper part 32 of the arm is hollow, and slidably receives the bar5t. For convenience in manufacture, it may consist of a main casting 53closed by a cover plate di). The part 53 carries a cam follower rollert?. received in a stationary cam groove ed. It further carries a guideshoe E5 which is slidably related to a guide track 58 formed integrallywith the casting l@ in which the cam groove Elli is formed.

Reverting now to Fig. 6, the cam groove Gd is generally horizontal, butisdownwardly curved at the ends. The result of this arrangement is thatthe telescopic arm is extended to desired full length at the ends of thedipping and pouring stroke, and is very substantially shortened duringits movement from one end position to the other.

This has a number of benefits, one of which is that there is no need tohoist or elevate the heavy ladle and its charge of metal a substantialdistance during the desired transportation from the furnace to the shotsleeve. Another is the reduction in centrifugal 'force applied to themolten metal, so that there is no tendency ior the metal to splash outof the open side of the howl, or to rush prematurely along the ladle tothe discharge spout, despite fast motion to retain heat.

The entire bearing assembly l2 (Fig. 6) is mounted on a plate ld whichis rigidly carried at 'the upper end of a rod le, which in turn isclamped in supports 'i3 and 8d, mounted in spaced relation on a plate82, which in turn is secured to the outside shell of thefurnace or othermelting pot. This may be done by means of blocks l84 which arepreliminarily welded to the furnace, and which receive bolts 8S whichmount the plate 82 on the side of the furnace.

The particular mounting arrangement shown, with its rod 1S, is preferredbecause of its flexibility of adjustment. For example, the height of themechanism may be readily varied by moving `the rod 'i5 up or down beforetightening the set screw 88 of a rotatable collar 9i). A trial heightadjustment is selected for best relation to the level of the moltenmetal in the pot and to the height of the shot sleeve. The entiremechanism then may be bodily moved about the axis of the rod i6 for bestaim of the molten-metal flowing out of the ladle, whereupon the rod maybe locked in position by clamping the clamping bolt 92, it beingunderstood that the bearing 'i8' is a split clamp bearing. The hydraulicconnections to the upper and lower ends of the hydraulic cylinder 48 ate4 and 95 are preferably made through flexible hoses which do not impedethe desired Aadjustments for the aim ofthe ladling mechanism.

Referring now to Fig. "I, the ladle is itself adjustably mounted on thearm which moves the same. An inverted U-shaped itting it forming a partof the ladle is clamped to the flattened upper end of@J rod m2 by meansoi a bolt |64. This makes it possible to change the angle of the ladlerelative to the arm. The rod H32 is ilxedly but adjustably secured in asplit arm |06 by means of a clamp bolt l, and this makes it possible toraise or lower the ladle slightly, and to oscillate the same' about theaxis of rod |62. The arm |03 is stepped as indicated at llt and ||2, thetop portion l i2 being secured in position by means of a nut H4threadedly received on the upper end of a stud H6 xedly secured in andeffectively forming a part of the main casting 58 `previously referredto.

Fig. 7 also shows how the upper head H3 of cylinder 48 is secured to themain plate 74 cy means of a pair of side plates |24 and |22. The lowerhead |24 of the cylinder is drawn toward the upper head by. means offour tie bolts |23 disposed outside the cylinder 43,

4In Fig. 6 it will be noted that the intermediate portion 30 of theladle is convergent or tapering toward the spout 38. The convergence ortaper is preferably at the lower side of the ladle, and this, Vtakentogether with the bend in the bowl 40, prevents premature disclosure ofmetal from the ladle. Thus when the ladle is in horizontal position thebowl still slopes downwardly, and even after the ladle moves somewhatyfurther the slope at the bottom of the ladle part 30 tends to itselfdelay `the discharge of metal.

It is not essential to employ a gear and rack arrangement when using acylinder and piston mechanism for moving the ladle, and a modificationof the invention is shown in Figs. 1 through 4 of the drawing, in whicha simple linkage is employed for the purpose.

Referring to Figs. l1 and 2, the apparatusv comprises an hydrauliccylinder |30 carried by means of support bars |32 on e, bearing plate|34 secured at the upper end of a main support plate |36, which in turnmay be fastened to any convenient support such as the furnace, or thedie casting machine, or members extending therebetween. VThe ladle |38is carried at the upper end of a telescopic support arm |49, thelower 6end of which is carried on and pivotally mounted byV means of a shaft|42.

lReferring now to Fig. 3 it will be seen that shaft |42 has an arm |44projecting sidewardly therefrom, and this is connected by means of apivot |46 to a bifurcated fitting |48 adjustably secured to the threadedupper end of a piston rod- |50. The entire cylinder |30 is pivotallymounted at |52 (Fig. l), thus taking care of angularity during movementof the piston rodi The telescopic arrangement of the arm |40 is bestshown in Fig. 4 in which it will be seen that an inner'bar |54 isslidably housed within the outer arm |40. The bar |54may, if desired, beprovided with anti-friction rollers |55. The bar and its rollers areenclosed within the hollow arm |40 by means of a suitable cover' plate|58, which Vhas been removed in Fig. 4, but is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

'I'he mechanism for automatically varying the effective length or thearm hit is substantially the same as that previously described, therebeing a cam roller |50 (Fig. 2) carried by the outer housing or arm |45,and received in a cam groove |62 formed in a casting |64 mounted on thebearing plate |34 previously referred to.

The ladle |38 is somewhat different from that previously described. Itcomprises a frusto-conical portion |38 communicating with a deeptrough-shaped portionY |66 at one end, and with a bowl |48 at the otherend. The bowl is generally cylindrical, and is open at its upper orrighthand end, and closed with a substantially hemispherical shape atits lower or lefthand end. One face of the bowl is ycut away for asubstantial distance, as is indicated at I'Ill. The upper or cylindricalend is received in the cylindrical collar portion |72 of the ladle. t isdetachably mounted in place, being secured by one or more set screws|74. It will be understood that with this arrangement the bowl-may bemade of a material diierent from the ladle itself, preferably one whichis highly refractory or resistant to the ymolten metal in which it isimmersed. Moreover, the bowl is readily removed and replaced by anotherof greater or lesser capacity, as determined, for example, by simplychanging the size of the cut-away portion |78. A bowl may be selectedwhich provides a charge of molten metal commensurate with the size ofthe casting being made, allowing, of course, an excess or cushion ofmetal which forms a slug or residue at the end of the shot sleeve, andwhich is removed with the casting and gate when the casting isejectedfrom the die.

One typical relation between the die casting machine, the furnace, andthe ladle is schematically shown in Fig. 5, in which the stationary headof the press is shown at |30 with a shot sleeve at l|42 and a shotplunger m4 actuated by a shot cylinder |86. The furnace is shown at |88with an exposed part of the melting pot at lst. The ladle l-St is shownin horizontal position approximately midway between the dipping andpouring positions.

While no mention was made of it earlier, it will be understood that theladle in Figs. 6 and 7 issifnilarly arranged, in that the bowl 4t isdetachably secured to the ladle Eil, as by means of one or more setscrews 4l. Here again there is the convenience of making the bowl or anydesired material, which may be dierent from that of theladle, and ofreadily changing from one size bowl to another in order to change thequantity fof metal transported. A substantial number of bowls 40 may becast with aminimum opening, as at 44, and the opening may be enlarged onsuccessive bowls to make up a series having progressively differentcapacities.

The operation of the apparatus may be briefly described with referenceto Fig. 8 of the drawing. At a convenient point on the apparatus theoperator is provided with a lcontrol panel having a number of controlswitches or pushbuttons. These are shown at the top of Fig. 8, andfunction as follows. The buttons 22 and 204 must be simultaneouslydepressed by the left and right hands of the operator to start theapparatus. This is a safety precaution. Button 20S opens the die closingcircuit, and thus may be used for promptly opening the die in the eventof emergency. The button 208 is a manual shot safety butto-n. Button 240is a manual chopper button. These are used only when the apparatus isfitted with a so-called sliding adapter plate such as that set forth incopending application of John J. McGarigal, Serial No. 652,105, filedMarch 5, 1946, since issued as Patent No. 2,612,666, dated October 7,1952. The button 2i2 is a manual shot button which provides for manualoperation of the shot cylinder when desired. )in some cases the slug orresidue of metal in the shot cylinder may adhere to the cylinder insteadof being removed therefrom with the casting and gate. In such. case theoperator may press the manual shot button 2 l2 while the die is open,thus causing the shot plunger to eject the residue. The switch 2i4 is anoverall control switch which controls the supply of electrical power andthus makes it possible to deenergiae the circuits which provide thenormal automatic operation.

In the present case the machine is automatic for one cycle at a time. Inorder to start the machine the operator pushes buttons 202 and 204simultaneously with his left and right hands. Button 202 opens certainsafeties (not shown) on the main tie bars of the machine so that the diecan be closed. Button 204 is electrically connected by a lineschematically represented at 215 to a solenoid operated air valve 2I6,which actuates a single action air cylinder 2 I8, which in turn operateshydraulic four-way valve 220. This controls the hydraulic cylinder IBWhich opens and closes the die, and which now closes the die. Themovable platen 2G has connected thereto a limit switch rod 222. This isstepped at 224 for cooperation with a limit switch 226, and is providedwith cam projections 228 and 230 for cooperation with limit switches 232and 234. The switch 226 is normally open but closes as Soon as the diestarts to close, and this starts the ladle movement, as described later.The limit switch 232 has both left and right contacts. The left contactsare normally closed and prevent a manual shot from being made with theaid of the manual shot button 2I2 when the die is closed. The rightcontacts start a shot delay timer 235, as is described later. The limitswitch 234 functions to control the holding circuit of a relay 23B, aswill be described later.

As the die starts to close, the normally open limit switch 226 is closedby the limit switch rod 222 and electrically energizes a solenoidoperated four-way air valve 249 to supply air to air cylinder 242, whichin turn shifts hydraulic fourway valve 244. This controls the hydrauliccylinder 26 which then moves the ladle toward its pouring position.

VAs the die approaches its closedv position. limit timer 236 closes andenergizes switch 234 closes, thereby completing an electrical holdingcircuit to the coil of a relay 238.

When the die has closed and the machine locks, the right contacts oflimit switch 232 close the starting circuit of the electrical shot delaytimer 235. This starting circuit also includes a limit switch 268 whichis closed by a cam on the ladle shaft when the ladle reaches the end ofthe pouring stroke. The cam for this purpose is shown at 248 in Figs. land 2, and at 25h in Fig. 7. This starts the shot delay timer 235. Aftera brief interval, say one second delay, a load circuit of the magnetcoil of relay 238. This closes an electrical circuit which operates asolenoid operated four-way air valve 252. That operates an air cylinder25d and a four-way hydraulic valve 256 for the hydraulic shot cylinder2d. The latter is operated to drive the plunger 22 and so to produce thecasting shot.

As the hydraulic valve Z55 moves to produce the shot it closes a limitswitch 253 which closes a circuit to and which starts a machine openingtimer 266. This is the main timer, and is set for much longer intervalthan timer 236. After the desired cooling interval, for the casting tosolidify, the timer 269 energizes a solenoid operated air valve 252, bymeans of a connection schematically shown at 233. This operates the aircylinder 264., which in turn shifts the fourway hydraulic valve 220 ofthe clamp cylinder i3. The hydraulic cylinder it then opens the die forejection oi' the casting, the gate and the plug or residue.

As the machine starts to open, the limit switch 23.2 is returned to itsnormal position which, by reason of the left contacts, will allow amanual shot to be made when the machine is open. This is sometimesnecessary when the gate plug has stuck in the sleeve instead of beingejected with the casting, as was previously mentioned. The rightcontacts are in the starting circuit of timer 236, and are normallyopen, but close when the die is closed, and so start the delay timer235. This insures that the automatic shot will not start until a desiredtime, say one second, after the die is closed.

Limit switch 23d opens when the die is opening and so drops out relay33S which in turn deenergizes the solenoid operated four-way air valve252, and so admits air to cylinder 236. This reverses the four-wayhydraulic valve E53, and causes shot cylinder 2li to draw the shotplunger back to retracted position preparatory for the next shot.

Limit switch 22S which was the rst to close is now the last to open, andde-energiaes the solenoid operated four-way air valve 2l0. This causesair cylinder 2% to reverse the four-way hydraulic valve 'ldd and that inturn causes hydraulic cylinder 26 to return the ladle to its dippingposition. As the ladle returns to dipping position, the ladle operatedlimit switch 2l@ is closed, which because of its electrical connectionto solenoid operated air valve Elli for the main or clamp cylinder,prevents the die from being closed unless the ladle is in dippingposition in the melting pot of the furnace. This interlock prevents adry shot from being made.

To summarize the foregoing sequence of operation, the machine is startedby pressing the starting buttons. The die starts to close, and shortlyafter the die starts to close the ladle starts to move from dippingposition to pouring position. When the die is closed, as indicated bylimit switch 232, and provided also that the ladle has .9., :reached itspouring position, Vas'indicated :by limit switch 246"the shot delaytimer 2.36 :is started. After a lbrief Vprecautionary delay the timer236 runs out and the Vshot is started.

The actuation of the shot plunger, or in this case more specifically oithe hydraulic: valvecontrolling the same, starts the ymain timer 260,which is timed for a substantial period adequate to permit solidicationof the Vmolded v.piece prior to ejection. When the time on clock 26oruns out the clamp cylinder is reversed and the die starts to open. Thebeginning of the die'opening movement causes retraction of the shotplunger, and when the die has fully opened the ladle is moved back toits dipping position, thus completing the cycle.

vIt is believed that the limproved die casting vmachine vwith automaticladle mechanism, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparentfromthe foregoing detailed description. The automatic ladle mechanism makespossible an increased number of cycles hourly.Y It makes the successivecycles uniform. It results vin uniformity in respect to the gate plugs.It results in the maintenance of a more uniform die temperature. Itresults in a more uniform temperature of the metal supplied to the shotsleeve and to the die cavity. It permits removal of the operator fromthe furnace so that he is not subjected to heat, with consequent fatigueand loss of enciency. There is also a reduction in fatigue of theoperator because of elimination of the physical labor of transportingthe metal. It permits removal of the operator from the shot end of themachine and also from the parting line of the die, with consequentincrease in safety. It permits operation of the machine by acomparatively inexperienced operator, with excellent and uniformresults. It allows more time for the operator to concern himself withand to take care of the die, as well as other parts of the equipment. Itcontributesgreatly toward the production of more homogeneous as well asuniform castings.

It will be apparent that while we have shown and described our inventionin several preferred forms, changes may be made in the structuresdisclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention as soughtto be defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. Automatic ladling mechanism for a cold chamber die casting machineincluding a melting pot and a shot sleeve, said mechanism comprising aladle and an oscillatable support arm carrying said ladle near the upperend of said arm and pivotally mounted at the lower end of said arm inorder to move the ladle between a dipping position and a pouringposition, said arm being of substantial length and thereby aiordingadequate space between the melting pot and the shot sleeve, Said armbeing made of two telescoping members, and said apparatus being providedwith means for substantially shortening the arm during the middleportion of its travel and lengthening the arm at the end portions of itstravel so that the metal may be transported a substantial distancewithout being lifted a commensurate distance.

2. Automatic ladling mechanism for a cold chamber die casting machineincluding a melting pot and a shot sleeve, said mechanism comprising aladle having a bowl at one end and a discharge spout at the other end,an osoillatable support arm carrying said ladle near the upper `at itslower end end of said arm and pivotally mounted at the lower end of saidarm, 'and meansfor oscillating saidarm over a substantial angle in orderto move the ladle between a dipping position and a Vpouring position,said arm being of Substantial length and 'thereby `affording adequatespace between the melting pot and the shot sieeve, said arm being madeof two telescoping members, the up- Der or ladle-carrying portionthereof having a cam follower, said apparatus further `comprising astationary cam track receiving said cam follower, said carn track beingappropriately shaped for substantially 'shortening the arm during themiddle Yportion of its travel :and lengthening the arm `at the endportions of its'travel.

3. Automatic ladling mechanism for a cold chamber die Acasting machineincluding a melting pot and a shot sleeve, said mechanism comprising aladle having a bowl at one end and a discharge spout at the other end,said bowl having a filling opening, andsaid spout and its connection tothe bowl being tubular, an oscillatable support arm connected at itsupper end to said ladle intermediate the bowl and spout and pivotallymounted at its lower end, and means for oscillating said arm in yorderto move the ladle between adipping position for iilling the bowl withmolten metal and a pouring position for discharging the molten metalinto the pouring hole in the shot sleeve, said arm being of substantiallength and thereby affording adequate space between the melting pot andthe shot sleeve, said arm being made of two telescoping members, theupper or ladle-carrying portion thereof having a cam roller, and saidapparatus further comprising a stationary cam track receiving said camroller, said cam track being substantially horizontal in the middle anddownwardly curved at the ends, the arrangement substantially shorteningthe arm during the middle portion of its travel and lengthening the armat the end portions of its travel so that the metal may be transported asubstantial distance without being lifted a commensurate distance.

4. Automatic ladling mechanism for a cold chamber die casting machineincluding a melting pot and a shot sleeve, said mechanismcomprising arelatively long ladle and an oscillatable support arm carrying saidladle near the upper end of said arm, said arm being pivotally mountedin order to move the ladle between a dipping position and a pouringposition, said ladle having a bowl at one end and a discharge spout atthe other end, the upper end of said arrn being fixedly connected to theladle to form a rigid assembly, said arm being of substantial length andthereby affording adequate space between the melting pot and the shotsleeve,

said arm being made of two telescoping members, and said apparatus beingprovided with means for substantially shortening the arm during themiddle portion of its travel and lengthening the arm at the end portionsof its travel, so that the metal may be transported a substantialdistance without being lifted a oommensurate distance.

5. Automatic ladle mechanism for a cold chamber die casting machinehaving a melting pot, and a shot sleeve and plunger spaced well awayfrom said melting pot, said mechanism comprising a ladle having a bowlat one end and a discharge spout at the other end, a stationary guidetrack disposed between the melting pot and the shot sleeve, asubstantial portion of said guide track being horizontal and the ends ofsaid guide track being turned downward, means engaging said track andconnected to said ladle for guiding said ladle along said track, and atransport arm rigidly connected to said ladle for moving it along theguide track, said arm being' carried in a xed pivot beneath the track,so that the arm and track turn the ladle angularly with the bowl enddownward at the melting pot, and with the discharge spout downward atthe shot sleeve, and yet because of the horizontal portion of the trackthe ladle is moved substantially horizontally between the melting potand the shot sleeve.

6. Automatic: ladle mechanism for a cold chamlber die casting machinehaving a melting pot, and a shot sleeve and plunger spaced well awayfrom said melting pot, said mechanism comprising a ladle having a bowlat one end and a discharge spout at the other end, a stationary guidetrack disposed between the melting pot and the shot sleeve, asubstantial portion of said guide track being horizontal and the ends ofsaid guide track being curved downward, means engaging said track andconnected to said ladle for guiding said ladle to follow a pathdetermined at least in part by said track, and transport means operatingon said ladle for moving it along the guide track, said means and saidguide track with its downturned ends being so relatively move the ladleangularly with the bowl end downward at the melting pot for filling thebowl with molten metal, and with the discharge spout downward at theshot sleeve for discharging the molten metal into the pouring hole ofthe shot sleeve, and yet because of the horizontal portion of the trackthe ladle is moved substantially horizontally between the melting potand the shot sleeve.

arranged as to References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS Number Name Date 1,080,196 Buerger Dee. 2, 1913 1,265,333 HowardMay 7, 1918 1,433,278 Hopkins Oct. 24, 1922 1,458,635 Davis June 12,1923 1,846,087 Christensen Feb. 23, 1932 1,866,191 During July 5, 19322,064,734 Crawford Dec. 15, 1936 2,256,957 Traynor Sept. 23, 19412,293,087 Tann Aug. 18, 1942 2,363,759 Waldie Nov. 28, 1944 2,519,739Butner Aug. 22, 1950

